Christ in all the scriptures The door of the tent

 Christ in all the scriptures

The door of the tent   Exodus 26v35-37: 36v37-38

The door consists of 5 pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, standing on a foundation of brass, with a hanging curtain, attached on rings of gold.  There are similarities and differences with the veil; the hanging is the same as the veil, but without the golden cherubim; the foundation for the pillars is brass instead of gold; there are five pillars, whereas the veil had four.  Now we can ask, what does all this mean?   

We begin by asking, what is the function of this door?  It was to allow ease of entrance for the priests into the holy place to perform sacred service.  In addition to their inspection of sacrifices for worship, and their attention to the needs of the people, they attended to holy service.  This involved  maintaining light in the darkness, twice every day; replenishing of the shewbread every seven days; and burning incense at the golden altar on a regular basis.  How do we understand priesthood in the present day.  We begin by noting that men became priests, not through any process or programme, but, inherently by birth into the family of Aaron.  Similarly, believers are priests by right of new birth in Christ.  The truth of the priesthood of all believers has been suppressed by modern churches who insist on operating  a priestly caste system, dividing clergy from laity.  It was so in the olden times; it is not so today, as the New Testament reveals.  Peter wrote, referring to all believers, that we are "...a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ"-1st Peter 2v5; this is our service in worship to God.  Again in the same chapter verse 9, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises (virtues, excellencies) of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light".  This is our service in witness manward.  Again, in Revelation 1v5, in that great doxology of praise, outlining our salvation in Christ, it says, "...and hath made us kings and priests unto God, and His Father...".  All believers are priests today, there is no caste system; we serve God in worship, we serve men in witness.

Therefore the door of the tent speaks of the church, as the veil speaks of Christ.  Hence, the differences.  The cherubims (representing the inherent righteousness of Christ) are missing, since any righteousness we have is a gift, not a right.  The base of brazen sockets is a reminder that any service we give is only because Christ bore our sins on the cross (the brass is the symbol of the judgment of God, as pictured in the brazen altar, where He was sacrificed).  The five pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold may reflect the five writers of the New Testament-Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude.  These were attached to rings of gold, which may suggest Divine inspiration of their writings.  The hanging of blue reminds us of the heavenly nature of believers-we are not of this world, even as He is not of this world.  The purple is our royal position in Christ, we are the royal family of heaven-this is penned all over scripture.  The scarlet suggests our sacrificial service in the interest of others, which is the essence of Christian service.  The fine twined linen reflects the purity of service, and the evenly balanced service that marks all true believers, avoiding extremes-2nd Timothy 2v21-24.   All of these graces come upon us only in Christ, and we are occupied in  the greatest service possible to man.

This truth of priestly service by all God's people needs to be understood and promoted and practised today.  We are called to highest service; as such our lives have been elevated.  It is not in the volume of service that we do, but in the character of it.  Remember Paul wrote 14 epistles and Jude only one, yet both are equal pillars in the Church.  Even a cup of water given in His name will be rewarded.